Emily Dore
Asst. Religion & Ethics Editor
WHEN PEOPLE consider the Hindu religion, many picture a complex Indian religion composed of numerous deities, long mantras, and a priestly system based on caste. Yet rarely do people connect Hinduism and Christianity, religions not only separated by core beliefs but also by geographic origin. On October 3, Notre Dame’s Theology Department hosted Professor Noel Sheth, S.J., Ph.D., foremost scholar of world religions at the Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Religion in Pune, India, who attempted to provide connections between the two religions, offering specific insight into the Hindu rite of puja and the Christian Eucharist.
In Indian culture, the puja is a ritual of sixteen services intended for the dedication and honor of one of the many Hindu deities. Interestingly enough, though many believe Hinduism to be polytheistic, Hindus actually believe in a Supreme Being, in addition to minor deities to which one can pray. “Major deities are deities that grant salvation… a minor deity dies and is reborn,” Sheth explained. A Hindu priest, originating from the elite Brahmin class, conducts the ceremony as a devotee, performing services, such as feet washing, prostration, and oblations. “The basic idea is that the deity is a special guest at your home,” Sheth noted. Unlike the Eucharist, where we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity, the puja does not make this special connection with self-sacrifice and the deity. Pujas also vary greatly by region, from simple shorter services to the tantric puja, which can involve alcohol and sexual intercourse.
In his talk, Professor Sheth drew comparisons between the puja and the Christian Eucharist. Viewed together, both emphasize living the virtuous life, especially by performing social justice in the outside world. Also, both celebrations are viewed as a sort of adoration to a greater Being, with common practices of incense, food offering, and purification taking place. However, with such basic tenets of faith so distinct, the differences between the puja and the Eucharist are great. “Puja is performed not only for deity but also for human beings, objects, inanimate objects. Whereas for the Catholic Tradition, there is special terminology,” Sheth said. Interestingly enough, although the puja is performed in a group setting, more emphasis is placed upon inner sacrifice and personal contemplation. Meanwhile, the Christian Eucharist focuses on actual participation and attention to the rite of the Mass. The puja food offering can also be given to non-Hindus, which is untrue for Catholicism in regards to Eucharist.
Throughout his lecture, Professor Sheth stressed the importance of learning from other religions as a way to strengthen personal beliefs. Through contemplation of world religions, Professor Sheth raised interesting concerns that Christians have with the Church today and its followers. For example, there exists in our modern world a sense of “popular religiosity,” found among celebrities following a “fashionable” religion. With this belief, individuals raised Catholic will disdain the rosary as being idolatrous yet accept certain “exotic” practices of other religions, such as Hinduism. Professor Sheth noted that this is probably a psychological issue, resulting from disillusionment with establishment and a turn-off from religion in childhood. Another concern included the Indian Church’s view towards the puja. Since the puja is open to all people, there have been concerns over whether Christians could celebrate the puja without being idolatrous. The Church has yet to issue an official statement on this problem, though bishops in India have pushed for a decision.
Professor Sheth’s lecture brought to light a religion of which many in the Western world have limited knowledge. “We understand ourselves better through encounter,” Sheth noted. Guarded with knowledge of other religions, Christians can better understand reasoning behind their own beliefs and thus become more confident in their own faith and personal convictions.
Emily Dore is a sophomore History and Italian major who regrets ever contemplating buying a New York Mets NL East Division Champs 2007 t-shirt. Oh the agony. You can contact Emily at edore@nd.edu.
|
